Great Lakes Finals: The “Step Up” All Stars

As tends to be the case late in the spring AAU season. The weather gets nicer, the stakes in spring sports get greater, and invariably siblings graduate. In short… teams are often shorthanded around this part of the schedule.   It is not rare to see a team warming up with five or six players. Under these shorthanded circumstances, a handful of Michigan players stepped up and had big weekends.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] Category </h2>   Due to illness, Ann Arbor area [program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] rolled into the Windy City with only six players. It's a deep team with talent up and down the roster. However, two of the missing were perhaps their high-profile players. This weekend they showed depth of their program with only one loss in the event.   [player_tooltip player_id='2823601' first='Gian' last='Dula-ogon'] 5-10 2028 Ann Arbor Pioneer (pictured) What a weekend performance from the lefty sniper. To say he filled in the scoring gap for [program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] would be an understatement. Standout contest was a clutch Saturday night victory against a Chicago area Breakaway squad that had a guard going off as well. However, he wasn't going off to the tune of 33 points which is what the Ann Arbor product put up. Also handled point guard duties as his squad endured an injury to their point guard (see below) While the numbers are impressive. I was more taken in his final game of the weekend. Even though it might have been his lowest scoring output. When a mere 26 points is your lowest output, that gives an idea of the type of weekend this player had. He outdueled a Harbor Impact squad that featured one of the top guards in Michigan's 2028 class. Impressive how he consistently and creatively gets his own shot within the flow of the offense. Never feels like he is forcing things or putting up reckless “heat check” bombs. Impressed with how he can relocate and reset for many of his shots. A pump fake and a reordering of his steps does not appear to throw off his rhythm or timing at all. That is rare at this age level. Controlled the tempo of the game. Not the quickest player. However, because you simply cannot give you him an inch. The drive game is always a threat. Lefty, but can do things going to his right.   [player_tooltip player_id='2539683' first='Noah' last='Kronberg'] 5-11 2028 Saline My pick to click for a shorthanded Academy squad would have this player at the beginning of the tournament. Simply because the ball is in his hands so much. While Kronberg did score, he used the weekend to show off the full breadth of his point guard skill set. Hit Dula-ogon for many of his open deep looks. Often getting him the ball right in the sweet spot for his shooting motion. Set up the offense efficiently and played well in the two man-game. Hitting [player_tooltip player_id='2525441' first='Brady' last='Bishop'] (see below) on rolls in the dunker spot and at the rim. Showed toughness and heart by playing through a knee injury sustained on Saturday. A consummate point guard, with deep range perimeter. and decent positional size. That sounds like pretty intriguing prospect profile as Kronberg approaches upperclassman status. Certainly, a player to monitor in the 2028 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='2525441' first='Brady' last='Bishop'] 6-7 2028 Dexter You heard from the guards. Bishop was a "one man band" in the post weekend. More than simply held up well while playing heavy minutes. Collected blocks and points at a high rate. Quite slender but played with a wiry strength and nasty streak that should aid him going forward. Explosive athlete who finished with ease above the rim. Played well in pick and roll situations. Also showed good lateral quickness that when combined with the length could make him plus defender. Just needs to add some weight to complete the package. Shined in the closing contest against a Harbor Impact squad that did not feature much size along the frontline. Put up 10 points and countless bothers at the rim against a team that put heavy pressure on the basket.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Non-Academy Category</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2539734' first='Jake' last='Goodnough'] 6-4 2028 Milford The Inspire U program was missing their main post threat this weekend. Goodnough who also has wing capabilities stepped into that void. Competed hard on both ends of the court. Stood out in a Saturday afternoon contest against TNBA (OH) squad that featured and athletic and skilled frontline. Goodnough put up 12 points and provided plenty of defense and rebounding. Lenghty frame and plenty of mobility. Doesn't appear to mind contact at all. While the counting statistics don't always jump off the page. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is player who is also playing up an age group. On a team loaded with small college prospects. He might have the highest upside of the bunch.   [player_tooltip player_id='3545787' first='Alan' last='Nyambio'] 6-5 2029 Detroit Country Day This uber athletic post stepped into his own void. As he was not with this group last weekend in Chicago. Cliches get thrown around a lot in this scouting world. I try to stay away from the most hyperbolic ones. Not so in this case. Nyambio was "everywhere" in the [program_tooltip program_id='3562948' first='Hoops' last='High'] Sunday afternoon victory. At this point in his development, he is a post all the way. However, he made plays all over the court. especially defensively. Has a "condor" like wingspan that he used to be a major defensive factor in passing lanes. Good vertical athlete who exploded to the rim and did not seem to mind contact at all. Was on the ground a lot... and that is a compliment. The offensive game isn't necessarily smooth at the moment. However, this is a 2029 prospect, and you can't say he was not effective on that end. Put up 21 points in the victory, but it felt like more. Part of an intriguing 2029 core with the Yellowjackets featuring [player_tooltip player_id='3628127' first='Ryan' last='Williams'] (6-9) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='3557345' first='Zachary' last='Casey']

As tends to be the case late in the spring AAU season. The weather gets nicer, the stakes in spring sports get greater, and invariably siblings graduate. In short… teams are often shorthanded around this part of the schedule.